Lagerstroemia indica &#34;Orchid Cascade&#34;, commonly known as Crepemyrtle

ABSTRACT

“Orchid Cascade” is a new and a distinct variety of  Lagerstroemia Indica  “Prostrata”, commonly referred to as Crepemyrtle. It is a low growing variety where the primary limbs arch and cascade out and downward. It has a height of 16 to 20 inches at maturity with substantially no upward growth. It can reach a width of 40 to 48 inches. This cultivar is an early blooming variety which starts to bloom in early June and is in full color in Plant Zone 7B by mid June. It appears to be a multi-color blooming crepemyrtle because of the fading habit of some of its blooms. This color appears to range from a deep lavender/pink to an almost white in appearance with shades in between. The cultivar is cold hardy to 10 degrees Fahrenheit and is highly resistant to powdery mildew.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

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STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY-SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

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LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES OF THE PLANT CLAIMED

Lagerstroemia Indica “Prostrata”

VARIETY DENOMINATION

Lagerstroemia Indica “Orchid Cascade”, commonly known as Crepemyrtle

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a new and a distinct variety of landscape plant Lagerstroemia Indica Prostrata “Orchid Cascade”, commonly known as Crepemyrtle.

2. Description of Prior Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.99

This new and aforementioned cultivar. “Orchid Cascade” is a natural whole plant sport of an unnamed and unpatented low and spreading seedling crepemyrtle. This whole plant sport was found in a group of new plants produced by hardwood cuttings in one of our propagating beds. This new cultivar has a cascading growth pattern, is more compact and has a different leaf color and leaf arrangement than the parent plant. Its bloom is more profuse and has its own distinct color pattern. This new selection has been propagated from both hardwood and soft wood cuttings over several generations. Each generation produces plants that are identical to the original whole plant sport.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

This invention involves the discovery of a new and distinct variety of Crepemyrtle, Lagersrtoemia Indica “Prostrata”, which has been given the name “Orchid Cascade”. It is characterized by a vigorous, low growing and spreading cultivar with arching or cascading limbs. The plant reaches a height of 16 to 20 inches at maturity with substantially no vertical growth.

As new primary limbs appear and grow, secondary limbs appear on them. Often as many as 12 to 14 secondary limbs appear on each of the primaries. Green leaves, with a red purple edge emerge on both of these limbs. This color lightly spreads on the underside of each leaf that later gradually changes to green. Leaf edges retain this red purple color well into maturity before they change to green. As the plant blooms there are inflorescences at the terminal ends of both the primary and the secondary limbs and often we see double inflorescences. This produces a “foam” of color over the entire plant. Flower buds open with an orchid or lavender/pink color bloom. Shortly after opening some of the blooms start to fade in stages. Finally these blooms fade to an almost white color long before they drop. This creates the appearance of a multi color flowering crepemyrtle. We should also note that later in the bloom season we occasionally see a bud open with a very light color, almost white flower bloom. The stamens on all blooms retain their clear yellow color. “Orchid Cascade” is an early blooming cultivar with flowers opening in early June and are in full color by mid June in Central Arkansas, plant zone 7b. Plants continue to bloom into late October. Few seeds develop early in the bloom season but this increases as September and October approach.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

Fig. A An early blooming cultivar—in full bloom Jun. 16, 2004

Fig. B Shows the multi-color appearance of the cultivar

Fig. C “Orchid Cascade” in a 5 gallon container showing the arching and cascading growth habit, along with its low growth potential.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

This new variety of crepemyrtle, Lagerstroemia Indica “Prostrata”, named Orchid Cascade is a whole plant sport of an unnamed and unpatented low growing seedling used in our breeding program. “Orchid Cascade” is also a low growing cultivar. It is compact with arching or cascading limbs. At maturity it reaches a height of 16 to 20 inches with substantially no upward growth. Its width can reach 40 to 48 inches. The cultivar has been reproduced over several generations. The new plants are identical to the original whole plant sport. It is interesting to note the large number of secondary branches growing along the primary branches. Some primary limbs have a fan like appearance, others appear less developed. An inflorescence develops at the terminal end of each branch. Often there are double inflorescences. These measure 9 to 11 centimeters in height and are 7 to 9 centimeters in width. Each inflorescence can contain from 12 to 30 individual blooms. Old limbs retain their cascading appearance. We have never observed any signs of exfoliating bark. Color of these old growth matured limbs are a grey green 197B. Color of the current years mature limbs are grayed orange 174 B. [These colors and all following color notations are from the Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart] New branches exposed to the sun are a red purple 59B on the tops and on the bottom side are a yellow green group 145C. The leaf arrangement for this cultivar is primarily alternate with an occasional opposite arrangement. Leaves are ellipse or ovate shape with an acute tip and base. Mature leaf size varies greatly ranging from a length of 2.5 to 7 centimeters and a width of 1.2 to 3.6 centimeters. Mature leaf color is a green 137A on the axial side and green 137D on the abaxial side. Mature leaves have an edge of red purple 60C then change to green 137D in late summer. The early new growth leaves in the spring are green 137A with the stems or axis along with the leaf edge are the red purple 60C. The abaxial side of the leaves have a light wash of this red purple 60C color. As the leaves mature this red purple color disappears. Bloom buds of this cultivar are a red purple 60C on the top and green group 139D on the underside. These buds are 0.7 to 0.9 centimeters in width and 0.8 to 1 centimeter in length. Sepals are 0.4 to 0.5 centimeters in width and 1.2 to 1.4 centimeters in length. Blooms open early on “Orchid Cascade” It starts blooming in early June and is in full color by mid June. It will continue to bloom into late October. Flower color, including the edges, opens with a violet 84A, then soon, some of the blooms start to change to 84B, then to a 84C and finally to a 84D well before the petals fall. And in a few cases we see a bud initially open to the 84D color. 84D is a very light violet, almost white color. This changing color characteristic gives the plant the appearance of a multi-color blooming crepemyrtle. This cultivar is a very hardy plant having survived 10 degrees Fahrenheit without protection with no visible damage or delay in bloom period. It also has a very high resistance to powdery mildew. 

1. We claim a new and distinct variety of crepemyrtle plant substantially as shown and described characterized by low growing yet extensive cascading lateral branching that reaches a height of 16 to 20 inches with substantially no upward growth, its early blooming, profuse and distinctive lavender pink inflorescences that tend to fade to a lighter color as they mature and it's very high resistance to powdery mildew. 